Moving on up...

With the recent month of birthdays behind us (planning two birthdays back to back was a little more than I thought it would be) I can catch you all up on some of the other happenings that have been going on around the Sanders' house. One of the biggest changes around these parts is in the backseat of our cars. Drew is out of the infant carrier and Addie has finally moved out of her car seat into a booster seat. I do not think Drew really cares. He is just happy for a little more wiggle room... But Addie is very happy about the new change!

Addie's last ride in her "little" girl car seat.
She is on her way to Wally World to pick out her booster seat.

Addie was very excited about picking out her booster seat. She has been eying them for a while. She has been very jealous of her friend Aubree for some time because she gets to ride in a booster seat... can we say drama queen. On the way to the store, I told her I would give her two booster seat choices to pick from. My strategy was giving her two co-ed color choices so that we will not have to buy new booster seats for Drew in three years. We already have a pink flower car seat that our little man looks quite funny sitting in but I do not think it matters to him yet.

So we get to the store and pick up a few items that were on the list and then venture down the car seat aisle. Wally World has about 8 choices in the booster seat area.
Addie looks at them.
I look at them.
Addie immediately points to the most girlie of all girlie booster seat...
it is pink and purple with hearts all over it!!

Can you see my son in that seat when he is five?
I then point to the real choices and gray seat or a retro/geometric pattern seat.
Addie gives me her best performance and reasoning trying to sway my choices...
I think she gets this ability from her lawyer daddy.
She states, "Too boy-e" Mommy it is not beautiful and I have to have beautiful pink things." I stick to my plan trying to sway her with the TWO cup holders that come with the retro seat. As a girl who does not have a cup holder (it is the number one thing on my new car list right before XM radio) it is a great selling point for me.
Addie finally "gives in" and agrees on the retro seat with two cup holders. She did not do this with a joyful heart. She was a little sad. She will retell the story to anyone who will listen about the "too boy-e" car seat. But I think she is going to live... even without a beautiful booster seat.

Addie and Drew in there new seat arrangement.
* Please note: since these pictures Drew's seat has been turned around to the back.
APA now states children need to be rear facing until age 2.

See this is why we do not need another pink seat...
Drew's face says it all.

See you later friends.

12 months...

365 days of these little toes....

525,600 minutes of chasing after this little boy...

How can it happen in just a blink of an eye?

My baby boy is technically not a baby anymore...
He is a toddler.

This past month has been a whirlwind of birthday celebrations and sickness for little boy Drew.
He had his first "real" sickness that lasted for about a week, with 4 straight days of 100+ degree fever. Not fun times but that is behind us. I cannot wait to see what this year will bring for this very big blessing.

Happy Birthday Drew...

The weather was perfect and the day was grand for our little man's special day. We played outside, grilled hot dogs, and watched ten little fingers smash butter cream icing.

Drew's party theme was The Jungle Book.
His cake said it all...

Drew's special seat

Mommy and Daddy with the birthday boy.

Drew's future girlfriend?
Only time will tell if she will go for the younger man...

What was the hit of the party with kids and this mommy?
THE BOUNCY HOUSE!!!
Hours of fun and a nice place to relax... i
f you don't mind being bounced up and down.
Thanks Poppy and Ninnie.

Drew with LiLi and Ninnie.

Papa and Drew

The March Babes...
Uncle Jason and Aunt Kelli

Addie did the honor of blowing out her little brother's candle.

Drew likes cake... are we surprised????

Addie waiting for her favorite food group... Cake!!!

Opening presents.

Resting in the swing because...

I am one and tired.

Under the Sea....

As you can see by the date on the invite, I am a little behind on my blogging...
But with out further delay, the mermaid party was a blast with good times, great friends, and way too many toys. Addie was beyond excited to have all of her "favorite" friends at her house.

The invite I searched long and hard for because our little mermaid Addie
did not want an Ariel mermaid party... just all mermaids.

The cupcakes with "clams that you can eat"
to quote Addie.

The fish art project...

Addie's favorite part of her day...presents.
She opened them in about two minutes flat!

Tissue paper flying= one happy girl.

Does this look like one happy 4 year old or what?

Cutie pie Kate

Her big brother Evan taking a break from the toy drop from the stairs.
Who did he learn this trick from?
None other than the birthday girl.

Mermaids cannot be without some pirates around the sea.

The birthday girl having her cupcake..

Almost all of the birthday crew

Addie with her favorite birthday toy...

Little Hayden at his first birthday party.

Drew is ready for this party to be over... he needs a nap.

Another birthday in the books

11 months...

Hard to believe that this little baby boy will soon wrap up a year of firsts and milestones.
His personality is blooming and his crawling is getting faster. This month he started standing on his own and is beginning to "stretch" from furniture piece to furniture piece.
Addie is his favorite cheerleader. When he stands, she cheers, "Go Drew go! Go Drew go!"
He is starting to show interest in the stairs which is always fun. Addie likes to "race" him up and shouts, "I am the winner!" I hate to tell her that will not be the case much longer I am afraid.
We are beginning to have the sibling squabbles around here and all I can do is laugh at this point. At 11 months, Drew already knows how to push his big sister's buttons. He goes after her toys with a smile and just waits to see what she does.
Drew has developed this great laugh the past couple of months, but every time I try to get it on video he gets camera shy. The laugh is a husky, down from the bottom of your belly laugh that is just plain fun.

Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby?

Addie helping Drew wake up on a Saturday morning...
She says, "How's my big boy this morning?"
and then turns off his night light... every time.

Not a morning person...

One of Drew's favorite past times.... playing with the toilet paper.

Why won't children play with their toys we buy them?????

Not sure if this is fun or torture...
This is the question going through Drew's mind.

A little game of Where's Drew?